Questions about Page Formatting and Copy/Paste Functions
Aside from the above-mentioned topics, I'll also ask assorted details below.
1) Page Formatting: Typically, the pieces written require an A3 size (in the formatting menu) and it still just barely fits, and this might not later on as I add dynamics, text, and articulation instructions throughout the score. Is there a way to create a custom page size, or some setting where Musescore automatically-formats the page to display/fit every single staff (assuming this is what anyone would want in the first place).
A typical arrangement on my part includes (bigger works envisioned!):
2 Flutes (option: a 3rd for piccolo)
2 oboes
English Horn
2 Clarinets
Bass Clarinet
2 Bassoons (sometimes a contrabassoon)
2-4-6 Horns (one per staff to easily write distinct voices)
2 trumpets
2-3 trombones
tuba
4-5 percussion staves (assorted)
Piano
Harp
(sometimes even Organ)
(Sometimes a staff for Soprano, Tenor, and Choir for Operatic compositions)
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Celli
Basses
I.e. I don't want the program to limit any endeavors at some potential 90 piece opus with choir ;)
2) Why doesn't the "copy/paste" function actually copy time signature and key changes???
I write separate movements or scenes of larger works in separate files, for ease of editing, and so I don't have to scroll through 20 pages to get to where I left off. Later, I just Copy/Paste entire movements at once, until I realize I'm not sure why it cannot copy time and key changes if it already copies every single dynamic to the minutest detail. Is there a way to change this, or is it a matter of wait for version 4 (program)
3) is there a separate Voice soundfont for a single Soprano or Tenor? Or do all voices just sound like a choir of multiple men or women?
Comments
You can create any page size you want, and also customize staff size, in Format / Page Settings. So simply choose a combination of large enough / page small enough staff to get it fit. Often the best strategy is to wait until you're done entering music before worrying too much about this, as you won't know the final sizes of your systems until then.
Having copy/paste include key and time signatures is a common request, hopefully it will be implemented someday. but at this point, it's not planned for 4.0. Meanwhile, if you have separate files for separate movements - not a bad idea for large movements - I recommend just leaving it that way. No particular you should need to combine them into a single score. Just keep them separate, generate PDF's as needed, and join those.
You don't need a special soundfont to get solo voices - the default soundfont includes those. just go to View / Mixer and choose from any available sound for these staves.
In reply to You can create any page size… by Marc Sabatella
Many thanks for your detailed and helpful reply. Yes, normally I would keep separate movements of a symphony in separate files--the only reason I wanted to join them was that some competitions consider 1 file as a single entry, so that I'd have to pay a separate entry fee for each movement (I.e. roughly 100 euros or more). Also some orchestras and judges prefer all in one file, pdf or otherwise.
The only thing that would benefit from merging files is for operatic work where an entire act contains continuous music throughout it's 1-2 hour duration, like Wagner or Strauss. The best way to judge coherence during playback is if they are playing continuously, without pause.
In reply to Many thanks for your… by jordanobortol
Are there many competitions that accept MuseScore files? I would think most would want PDF's as the main entry, with any other supporting files option. And as mentioned, you can combine PDF's easily enough, lots of free programs for that. Similarly, you can easily glue together MP3's.
To combine movements into a single MuseScore file, it's technically possible with some work if you save as MSCX then open these in a text editor and do a little surgery to combine them. I've seen this basically work if you don't need the parts to display and don't mind playback not understanding what is going on. Could be useful in a pinch. But others who have done this more would need to help with the details.
In reply to Are there many competitions… by Marc Sabatella
The competitions only take PDF and/or MP3 files, however I didn't know I could merge PDF files. Then again, I'm not really a computer program person, I learn to "get the job done" and sometimes keep it simple to avoid frustration. Since Musescore is very user-friendly, I figured it would save myself time to get all in order in this program so I would just have to click "Export", rather than disperse work across several software programs (which would then require additional research).
Thanks for letting me know.
In reply to The competitions only take… by jordanobortol
Indeed, if MuseScore allowed you to combine movements easily, then doing it all that way would be the logical choice. But since it doesn't, you have to decide which complication to deal with. The complications of trying to combine movements in MuseScore given the limitations on what copy/paste actually copies are pretty enormous and would require a ton of work to overcome - work you'd probably have to do over again and again every time you created a piece. Learning how to combine PDF's takes only a few minutes, and once you know, you know, then it's simple forever. PDFsam is one popular free program for combining PDF's, but there are lots of others too.